The Methodist Church Nigeria Youth Fellowship has urged the Federal Government to take decisive steps to address rising youth unemployment, worsening insecurity, and the growing wave of brain drain, warning that the nation’s economic and social challenges are placing an unbearable burden on young Nigerians.
The call was made by the National President of the Methodist Church Nigeria Youth Fellowship, Ambassador Michael Ezeh, during the National Presidents’ Summit held at Wesley Cathedral, 39 Beecroft Road, Calabar, Cross River State, over the weekend.
Addressing delegates, Ezeh said the church must not remain silent in the face of the hardships confronting its members and the wider society.
“The current realities in our country affect young people the most. We are the demographic carrying the heaviest burden of Nigeria’s ongoing economic and structural challenges,” he stated.
He urged the Federal Government to move beyond policy pronouncements by implementing practical macroeconomic reforms capable of creating sustainable employment opportunities for graduates and reducing the alarming rate of youth unemployment.
Speaking on the increasing migration of skilled professionals, popularly known as “Japa,” Ezeh described the trend as a significant setback to Nigeria’s development. While acknowledging that many young Nigerians seek better opportunities abroad, he stressed the need for improved working conditions, economic stability, and policies that would encourage talented citizens to remain and contribute to national growth.
He also challenged Nigerian youths to harness their creativity, resilience, and innovative abilities to unlock the country’s vast economic potential.
On the digital economy, the Methodist Youth Fellowship noted that technological advancement presents enormous opportunities in remote work, entrepreneurship, and innovation. However, it warned against the dangers of cybercrime, misinformation, and moral decadence, urging Christian youths to embrace digital literacy and deploy technology for nation-building, human development, and the propagation of the Gospel.
Expressing concern over the worsening security situation across the country, Ezeh lamented that schools, places of worship, highways, and communities have become increasingly vulnerable to banditry, kidnapping, and insurgent attacks.
He advised young people to remain security conscious by exercising caution in their daily activities, choosing their associations wisely, and working closely with security agencies to report suspicious movements and help safeguard their communities.
Despite the prevailing challenges, the youth leader encouraged Nigerians not to lose hope, expressing confidence that the nation’s future could still be transformed through the commitment and integrity of its young population.
“Nigeria’s redemption will not come through political manoeuvring alone. It will be driven by the resilience, creativity, and prayers of a righteous generation of young people who refuse to bow to corruption,” Ezeh declared.
